Protesters turn back during Joe Paterno tribute
— -- STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State fans gave a standing ovation after the first of the university's three videos honoring the late Joe Paterno, while some Temple fans in the upper deck turned their backs in protest.
One red-lettered sign, behind the Owls fans, said, "He turned his back so we'll turn ours."
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Paterno's first game as head coach -- a 15-7 win over Maryland on Sept. 17, 1966 -- Penn State decided to honor the longtime coach with several videos "on the impact to student-athletes" and by having two co-captains from his first team participate in the coin toss before Saturday's game.
Outside Happy Valley, the university's decision to recognize Paterno sparked widespread debate. Paterno was fired in 2011 amid the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal, and he remains a controversial figure nationwide.
At Penn State, however, Paterno is still revered. Outside Beaver Stadium, at the former site of his bronze statue -- which was torn down in the summer of 2012 -- fans placed knick-knacks like balloons and posters in memory of the coach.
Former players and alumni also left dozens of bricks to symbolize the wall that was demolished behind the Paterno statue. The wall celebrated player and team accomplishments.
"I do appreciate that [Penn State is] doing something," said Franco Harris, a former Nittany Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers player who has vocally supported Paterno in the past. "It's a good first step."
Harris delivered a speech to a crowd of at least 100 on the small, grassy hill where the statue once stood. College Football Hall of Famer Lydell Mitchell, who played at Penn State from 1969 to 1971, signed autographs and chatted with fellow supporters there.
Only one protester, stationed near the media gate, was seen during the pregame festivities. He held a sign that read, "You forgot already." Another protester showed up Friday, for the private lettermen reunion to honor Paterno, holding an identical sign near Gate A.
That protester, Robert Hoatson, said he drove from New Jersey and had protested at Penn State before. Hoatson runs an organization, Road to Recovery, that helps survivors of sexual abuse.
"When I heard Penn State was organizing a tribute to Joe Paterno in any way, shape or form, my blood boiled again," Hoatson said. "It's outrageous."
In May, unsealed court documents revealed that a man said he complained to Paterno about sexual abuse by Sandusky in 1976 but was rebuffed. University president Eric Barron has said the allegation was not substantiated in court or tested by any other process.
Paterno was never charged with a crime related to the scandal.
He finished his career as the winningest coach in FBS history with 409 victories but was fired in November 2011, shortly after Sandusky, Paterno's former defensive coordinator, was arrested for child sexual abuse.
Paterno died in January 2012 of lung cancer. Sandusky was convicted in June 2012 on 45 of 48 charges and is serving a 30- to 60-year sentence.
